Janina Gavankar vs. Marshall Allman, Round 2 of 'True Blood' 'feud'

Curt WagnerRedEye

The war of words between "True Blood" stars Janina Gavankar and Marshall Allman over a video leaked on Funny Or Die hasn't calmed in the week since the footage surfaced.

During an interview late last week, Allman suggested that Gavankar exposed the video, which does not show the actor in a favorable light. (A funny light, for sure.) Gavankar denied the charge via email on Saturday. (Read the Allman interview here.)

"I definitely did not invite those cameras to the set. I assumed they were part of his large entourage," Gavankar wrote from the Austin set of the indie film, "Satellite of Love."

Gavankar said that if she nor Allman is responsible, then maybe the director leaked the video. "Maybe he's finally fed up with Marshall's delusions, and how hard he is to work with."

Allman plays shapeshifter Tommy Mickens on the HBO series, while Gavankar, who is new to the show this season, plays a shifter named Luna. In the video titled "Method Shapeshifting," Allman and Gavankar are set to film a scene when Allman's method acting technique causes problems between the two. Allman believes he can physically change into animals like Tommy does.

While filming the scene with Gavankar, Allman strips down and acts like a dog and a monkey, but never actually changes into the animals. He licks himself inappropriately and humps Gavankar's leg. Citing that action, Gavankar laughs at Allman's belief that "she's secretly in love" with him, as he said during our interview Thursday.

"Classic narcissism," she wrote, describing Allman's allegation. "I think the footage speaks for itself. As always, I try to conduct myself in a professional manner.

"I just roll with the punches. As you can imagine, there are many punches when working with Marshall."

At the end of the video, Allman becomes combative when Gavankar actually becomes a dog. "You call that shifting?!" he shouts. (When I asked why the dog she changed into has male parts, Gavankar wrote, "I choose not to follow the expected norms placed on me, therefore I am not gender specific when I shift.")

Gavankar said that she isn't sure why Allman has had such a problem with her, but she has taken action to improve the situation for next season. "He's probably just upset that there's a new kid in town," she wrote. "Don't worry, Human Resources has been called, and this tape is being used as evidence."

It seems the drama behind the scenes of "True Blood" rivals what fans see in new episodes airing at 9 p.m. Sundays on HBO. I'll have more from Gavankar in the coming weeks.